Cycloionone (CAS 5552-30-7) — Woody Middle to base Note Fragrance Ingredient

Woody · Sweet

Cycloionone

CAS 5552-30-7

Origin
synthetic
Note
Middle to base
IFRA
Generally safe
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is Cycloionone?

Cycloionone is a synthetic fragrance compound often found in modern perfumes and body care products. It contributes to fresh, woody, and slightly floral scent profiles. This versatile ingredient helps create long-lasting fragrance compositions, making it valuable for perfumers seeking stable and diffusive notes in their formulations.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
Approved for use in cosmetics
Check IFRA guidelines for specific limits
CAS
5552-30-7
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Woody · Sweet
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does Cycloionone Smell Like?

Cycloionone opens with a crisp, airy freshness reminiscent of morning dew on cedar planks. As it evolves, the heart reveals a subtle floralcy akin to violet petals dusted with powdered sugar. The dry-down settles into a smooth, woody-amber embrace with remarkable tenacity, leaving a trail that’s simultaneously clean and sophisticated. Its unique character bridges aquatic freshness with warm base notes, making it a versatile performer in modern fragrance architectures.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Light Blue(Dolce & Gabbana, 2001)

Used as a woody-amber diffuser to extend the citrus top notes and create the fragrance’s iconic ‘sun-warmed skin’ dry-down.

Sauvage(Dior, 2015)

Provides the synthetic ambery backbone that enhances the fragrance’s modern freshness and projection.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

5H-1-Benzopyran, 6,7,8,8a-tetrahydro-2,5,5,8a-tetramethyl-

SMILES: CC1=CC=C2C(C)(C)CCCC2(C)O1

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

Cycloionone belongs to the cyclic ketones class, structurally related to ionones but with enhanced stability. While not found in nature, it shares olfactory characteristics with some naturally occurring woody-amber molecules. Industrial synthesis typically involves aldol condensation pathways followed by cyclization. The absence of chiral centers makes it easier to produce consistently compared to many natural isolates.

Physical & Chemical Properties

AppearanceColorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor Threshold0.01 ppm in air

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Middle to base
Volatility
Moderate (2-6 hours)
Blending
Excellent with citrus and woody notes
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance1-3%Up to 5%For woody-amber diffusion
Body Care0.5-1.5%Up to 2%Provides long-lasting freshness

Classic Accords

+ Ambroxan + Bergamot = Modern fresh + Cashmeran + Vanillin = Soft woody

Tip: Use with ionones to create a seamless floral-woody transition in heart notes.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Iso E Super CAS 54464-57-2

When seeking more pronounced woody character with less sweetness. Iso E Super has higher tenacity but less floralcy.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.

IFRA Status

No current IFRA restrictions. Listed as safe up to 10% in finished products (IFRA 49th Amendment).

RIFM Assessment

RIFM evaluation completed in 2018 with no significant safety concerns at typical usage levels.

Sustainability

As a synthetic material, cycloionone production avoids natural resource depletion. Modern manufacturing processes have reduced solvent waste and energy consumption compared to early synthetic routes. Being petroleum-derived, its carbon footprint is offset by requiring minimal quantities per formulation due to high potency.

Explore Cycloionone

Browse essential oils and aroma compounds.

Browse on iHerb →

Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

References

  1. IFRA Standards Library (2021). 49th Amendment. IFRA Official

Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.

Report a data error

Physicochemical Properties

DTXSID: DTXSID20863558

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 192.302 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 0.952 g/cm^3📊 OPERA
Boiling Point 240 °C🔬 EPA CTX
Melting Point 38.648 °C📊 OPERA
Flash Point 106.833 °C📊 OPERA
Refractive Index 1.507 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 199.179 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 4.527 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 5.5) 4.527 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 4.527 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 6.07 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0.005 mol/L📊 OPERA
Henry's Law Constant 0.001 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0.134 mmHg📊 OPERA
Viscosity 3.837 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 30.196 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 117.465 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA

Molecular Descriptors

Topological Polar Surface Area 9.23 Ų💻 Computed
H-Bond Donors 0 count💻 Computed
H-Bond Acceptors 1 count💻 Computed
Rotatable Bonds 0 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 59.27 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 23.497 Å^3📊 OPERA

Data Sources:

🔬 EPA Experimental data from U.S. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard & CTX APIs. 📊 OPERA Predicted using EPA's OPERA QSAR models. 💻 Computed Calculated from SMILES using RDKit.

Similar Posts